Complexes between Activated Protein C and Protein C Inhibitor Measured with a New Method

Karin Strandberg; Jan Astermark; Ola Björgell; Charlotte Becker; Paul E. Nilsson; Johan Stenflo

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1616742

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2001; 86(06): 1400-1408
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1616742

Review Article

Schattauer GmbH

Complexes between Activated Protein C and Protein C Inhibitor Measured with a New Method

Comparison of Performance with other Markers of Hypercoagulability in the Diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Karin Strandberg

¹Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

,

Jan Astermark

²Department of Coagulation Disorders, University Hospital, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

,

Ola Björgell

³Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

,

Charlotte Becker

¹Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

,

Paul E. Nilsson

³Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

,

Johan Stenflo

¹Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

A first clinical evaluation has been made of the performance of a newly devised immunofluorometric assay for measuring plasma concentrations of activated protein C (APC) in complex with protein C inhibitor (PCI). The method was compared with testing for other markers of hypercoagulability in a case-control study comprising 123 patients with clinical suspicion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The diagnosis was confirmed by ascending phlebography, and the thrombotic burden estimated with a newly developed scoring system. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves calculated to demonstrate the discriminatory capacity of the methods, showed the area under the curves (AUCs) to be similar for the APC-PCI and D-dimer methods. However, in contrast to the D-dimer method, the APC-PCI method measures a well-defined analyte, a prerequisite for reliable comparisons of future clinical studies. The APC-PCI method appears to be particularly useful as a marker for detection of recently developed proximal thrombi.

Keywords

APC-PCI complex - immunofluorometric assay - deep vein thrombosis - case-control study - hypercoagulability markers

Full Text

References

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